destroying wasp nests

[The Flying Tench 43]

I've discovered a wasp nest in my loft, and it's not in a good place because where the wasps fly in is close to a window into the house which is often open.

 

I plan to destroy it by squirting with anti-wasp nest stuff from Tesco. Is it ok to do that now, or should I wait a month or two?

[severus 0]

I wait until dark then spray by the light of a flashlight. If some escape and come after me for some payback, the light goes off.

[Now there's a right un. 48]

Okay a few questions...

 

How big is the nest?

Can you see if there is more than one entrance into the actual nest?

 

 

In one of my previous homes my neighbour nearly died after attempting to eliminate a nest himself because there were 2 entrances to the colony. He suffered over 1,000 stings and stayed in hospital for 3 weeks.

 

If there is only one entrance then simply wait until nightfall and fill the entrance with Fly spray, 3 full tins should suffice.

Use a spray pipe similar to that found on WD40 as it helps you get right in.

Make sure you are well wrapped up and protect your head.

The colony should be killed off within 24 hours.

 

Before you throw out the nest take the time to look at the construction of it, quite amazing.

[robtherake 26]

I wait until dark then spray by the light of a flashlight. If some escape and come after me for some payback, the light goes off.

 

I've been badly stung when I disturbed a wasp's nest at night: maybe I was unlucky, or maybe the bastards are just really determined.

[Steve Walker 941]

Not tempted to harvest it for chub bait, John?

[grumpybum 3]

I was lucky the nest was in the very early stage. A bell like structure approx 1.5in deep with a 1in circumference. Hanging from a shed roof. Strangely It seemed to be being built by 2 wasps, judging by their size both queens.

[severus 0]

I've been badly stung when I disturbed a wasp's nest at night: maybe I was unlucky, or maybe the bastards are just really determined.

 

Ouch. I've not been that unfortunate, but I tend to keep my distance and spray the nest generously. I've been stung enough times by wasps and especially bald-faced hornets that I take great pleasure in killing them, they're miserable bastages.

 

A few years ago some yellowjackets found an opening in my house and made a large nest in the finished ceiling of my basement, I knew they were there when they began coming out of my HVAC ducts within the home. I eliminated them with an insect fogger, but before that happened my poor wife got a scare. Some wasps had gotten into the basement and when she shook a curtain one of them flew up the leg of her pants. I tell you, I have never seen anyone shuck their clothing off that fast, she was a real blur. One moment she was running in place, screaming, and then she was gone, just like that, her pants lying in a heap on the floor. My daughter and I looked at each other then we guffawed out loud for a few minutes until my gut ached. I'm smiling as I write this.

 

And she didn't even get stung.

[chesters1 1587]

i kill the queens as they start the nests when they are seen chewing planed wood (they dislike unplaned or painted wood) on the shed door etc.

the rest in the roof are chesterised with nothing more than a 10 or 20ml syringe hot glued to a landing net pole and half filled with wasp nest powder .

the earlier the better killing nests the buggers do chew about in the loft as well

 

the nearest i have come to calamity was putting a spade through a nest in a grass bank but i could run like the wind then and only got stung once ,nowadays the whole nest would run out of venom before i got 10 feet!

Edited May 28, 2012 by chesters1

[Now there's a right un. 48]

I kill all Queens I come across when they are first founding their colonies.

I leave some timber cut from a tree on my fence and wait for a queen to come calling.

 

In the Winter I spray my whole loft in all the nooks and spaces with fly spray, get them whilst they hibernate.

I had 4 dead queens on my loft carpet this year.

 

However, on a plus note, Wasps do keep down the numbers of caterpillars that attack your vegetables.

 

Edited May 28, 2012 by Now there's a right un.

[The Flying Tench 43]

Thanks for all your comments, but no-one has answered my main question. Is now a good time of year to destroy the nest, or should I wait a couple of months?

 

Thanks

 

J